Projectile.



UNITED STATES CHARLES M. BEoWrto-E CIIICAeo, ,ILLINoIs;

PATENT OFFICE.

PROJECTI'LE.

SPECIFICATIQN forming*parhlnetterslaten'c-Norajyatlvenlber 4, 1.899.V Application filed MB'IG1-23, 1899' Serial No. 710,253. (N0 model.)

, T a/ZZ whom, it muy concern):

` citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the eountyof Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Projectiles, of which the following is a specification. A

The present invention relates to that class of projectiles that are, provided Withmeans for directing their flight to the end that they shall maintain a true course and at any given instant throughout their flight occupy a position in line with or substantiallyparallel with the trajectory. Unlessmeans be provided to prevent it When'rth'e projectile strikes it will occupy practically the same inclination as it had upon leaving the gun,and this is objectionable when the gun is fired at aconwill strike more or less sidewise. In order to prevent this, means have been provided for retarding the rear end of the projectile; and the object of the present invention is to provide improved means for this purpose.

To this end the invention consists in the features of novelty that are herein described.

In the accompanying drawings, which are made a part of. this specification, Figure 1 is an axial section of a projectile `embodying the invention in its preferred form. Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof oni the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a 'plan View of one of the parts thereof.

In all the figures, A represents the body of the projectile, and B a longitudinal'air-passage formed therein, preferably directly in the center, so that in any cross-sectional plane of the projectile-the weight is evenly `distributed around the longitudinal center.

This air-passage is at all ltimes entirely open and unobstructed at its forward end. At the rear endmeans are provided for obstructing the passage as against the projecting pres-f sure, While at the same time proyisienis made for allowing air to escape freni the passage during the flight of the projectile, the escape of the air at the rear end of the passage being resisted to a greater or less extent, whereby the airis caused to exert'a direct pressure upon the projectile at the rear endY thereof.

Preferably the body' of the; projectile is cored or counterbored to receive a tube E and to provide an annular chambe-r F fr containing an explosive substance, the tube Ebeing held in place by a screw-plug C', having through it a central opening registering with and of the same capacity as the bore'of the tube E. This cap is also provided with a threaded opening()2 for receiving the fuse.

D2 is a device for the double purpose of completely obstructing the air-passage as against the projecting pressure andfor partially obstructing the air-passage as against the escape of air from the rear end of the passage during the iiight of 'the projectile. This device consists of a short plug 7-, adapted to` enter the rear end of the air-passage, and a plate having equidistant arms d', that are the projectile by means which will permit the obstructer D2 to have a limited movement toward and from the rear end of the projectile.. For thus connecting the obstructer to the projectile I prefer to use bolts G, which are screwed into threaded openings in the arms d and which have heads G occupying recesses c' in the sides of the plug C, the recesses being constructed at their rear ends so as to receive the shanks of the bolts and permit of their endwise movement and at thex same time provide shoulders against which the edge of the bolts may come in Contact for limiting the movement of the.obstrueter D2 away from the rear end of the projectile. l

When the projectile is fired, the obstructer D2 bears against the rear end of the projectile and the plug d occupies. the air-passage, as shown by full'lines in Fig. l, so that the projecting ,pressure cannot enter the rear end of the air-passage. During its flight the air passing through- .the air-passage will exert a pressure upon the obstructer and moge 'it away from the rear end of the projetIle to .the exteutpermitted by the bolts G, thus bringing it to the `position indicated Vby dotted lines. While in this position Vit will to a greater or less extent resist. the escape of air adaptedlobeconnected-Withthe rear endof from the rear end of the air-passage, and thus, f

as' in the other forms of the invention, the air is caused to exert upon the rear end of the projectile a pressure somewhat in excess of the pressure exerted upon the forward end.

IOO

What I claim as new is- 1. A projectile having a longitudinal passage open at its forward and rear ends to permit air'to pass through it during the ight of the projectile, a displaceable device adapted to close the rear end of the passage as against the projecting pressure exerted upon the rear end of the projectile, and means for limiting the movement of said device awajr fromthe rear end of the projectile and holding it Yin a position opposite the rear end of the passage, whereby it resists the escape of air from the passage, substantially as set forth.

2. A projectile having'a longitudinal passage open at its forward and rear ends to permit air Yto pass through it during the flight of the projectile, to close the rear end of the passage as against the projecting pressure exerted upon the rear end of the projectile, headed bolts by which said device is carried, the projectile being provided with recesses in which the heads of the bolts Alit, and shoulders for engaging the heads of the bolts for limiting the movement a displacea-ble device adapted4 of said device away from the projectile, sub stantially as set forth.

3. A projectile having a longitudinal passage open at its forward and rear ends to permit air to pass through it during the flight of y said plug having an opening registering with the bore o the tube, and means for closing the rear end of the passage as against the projecting pressure exerted upon the rear end of the projectileand for resisting' the escape of air from the rear end of the passage, substantially as set forth.

CHARLES M. BROWN. Witnesses:

L. M. HOPKINS, BERTHA C. SIMS. 

